Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

YC Startup Curo Hiring Marketplace Supply Associate

2025-01-28

Curo, a Y Combinator-backed startup, is hiring a Marketplace Supply Associate. This business development role focuses on identifying EV charging and parking assets to meet fleet needs in specific locations. The ideal candidate is a strong communicator, proactive, and a team player comfortable with cold calling and email outreach. Curo aims to accelerate electrification, offering cost-effective EV charging solutions for commercial fleets.

(www.ycombinator.com)

Startup

The Brutal Truth About Udemy Instructor Earnings in 2024

2025-01-28

An in-depth analysis of 200,000 Udemy courses reveals a harsh reality for instructors: the average yearly income is only $3,306, with 75% earning less than $1,000 annually. A mere 1% achieve a full-time income (>$50K/year). The top 1% of instructors receive over 50% of all earnings, while the bottom 50% earn less than 1%. New instructors joining since 2020 average just $2,100 annually, significantly less than those who joined before 2020 ($5,400). Udemy's shift towards B2B business exacerbates inequality, with most courses excluded from Udemy Business and experiencing drastically reduced income. The study concludes that success on Udemy is exceptionally challenging for most instructors, recommending income diversification.

(sellcoursesonline.com)

Startup Online Courses Earnings

A 20-Year-Old Startup: Simplicity, Sincerity, and Perseverance

2025-01-28

On Chinese New Year's Eve, a 20-year-old company reflects on its journey. Founded in 2005, the small team, initially driven by a desire for change, has persevered through numerous product failures. Their secret? A commitment to simplicity, sincerity, continuous iteration, and resilience. Core values include prioritizing customers, streamlining processes, accountability, and maintaining a hacker spirit. Consistent on-time pay and year-end bonuses highlight their commitment to employees. This story showcases how a small company can thrive for two decades, focusing on its vision and adapting to challenges.

(hacklook.com)

Startup company culture business values

2025: Another Brutal Year for Startups? Data Suggests So

2025-01-27

Data suggests 2025 could be another tough year for startups. 2024 saw a significant increase in startup closures compared to 2023, with Carta reporting a 25.6% rise to 966 closures (US-based Carta customers). AngelList saw a 56.2% increase to 364 closures. This surge is attributed to the overfunded and overvalued companies from the 2020-2021 boom. Many struggled to secure further funding after inflated valuations. Experts point to a combination of factors: running out of cash, lack of product-market fit, and inability to raise more capital due to previous overvaluation. The trend is expected to continue in the first half of 2025, gradually declining thereafter.

(techcrunch.com)

Startup startup failures funding crunch overvaluation

NZ Opens Doors to Digital Nomads with Relaxed Visa Rules

2025-01-27

New Zealand is loosening its visitor visa rules to attract digital nomads, particularly high-skilled IT professionals from the US and Asia. This move, announced by Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, aims to boost the country's economy by bringing in high-value tourists. While the changes apply to all visitor visas, allowing remote work for foreign companies, those working over 90 days may need to declare themselves as tax residents. The government acknowledges potential risks, such as increased infrastructure strain, but believes the benefits outweigh them.

(www.abc.net.au)

Startup digital nomad visa policy

YC Startup Hyperbound Hiring Full-Cycle Account Executive in SF

2025-01-26

Hyperbound, a YC S23 startup based in San Francisco, is hiring a Full-Cycle Account Executive with a salary of $260K-$300K + bonuses and equity. They've created sales-tech to scale sales training for large enterprise teams, growing from $0 to $1M in under 11 months. The ideal candidate will have significant B2B sales experience, be comfortable self-sourcing leads, and excel in closing large mid-market and enterprise deals. This is a full-time, on-site role in San Francisco.

(www.ycombinator.com)

Startup

Quiet Quitting: A Symptom of Workplace Imbalance

2025-01-26

The recent surge in 'quiet quitting' and 'soft quitting' isn't about laziness; it's a response to unfair compensation, excessive workloads, and a lack of work-life balance. Employees aren't necessarily uncaring, but seek alignment between work and personal well-being. The article argues that businesses must address employee needs through fair pay, flexible arrangements, and meaningful work to avoid massive economic losses from disengagement. Fostering a culture of curiosity and collaboration is key to creating a more effective and engaging workplace.

(www.forbes.com)

Startup quiet quitting

Argentina's Economic Transformation: A Honeymoon Perspective

2025-01-26

The author spent 23 days in Argentina during their honeymoon in December 2024, witnessing firsthand the economic transformation under the libertarian President Milei. Milei's policies led to peso devaluation and price increases, but also eliminated the shadow economy and began deregulation. The author interviewed locals in Ushuaia, El Chalten, and Buenos Aires, gathering diverse opinions on the economic changes, ranging from optimism to pessimism. While the transition is painful, the author believes Argentina is on a solid path to recovery.

(jorgevelez.substack.com)

Startup Argentine economy President Milei economic reforms

The YC Graveyard: 821 Startups That Didn't Make It

2025-01-26

A comprehensive list details 821 defunct startups from 39 Y Combinator batches across 50 industries. From W24 to W05 batches, the list spans diverse sectors including finance, technology, healthcare, and consumer goods. This 'graveyard' serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in the startup world, highlighting that failure is common, yet fuels innovation.

(ycgraveyard.iamwillwang.com)

Startup failed startups

Why North England Remains Economically Depressed: A Historical Perspective

2025-01-25

This article delves into the deep-seated reasons behind North England's economic underperformance, arguing it's not simply an economic issue but a consequence of historical power structures and political decisions. From the Norman Conquest to the Thatcher era, power has been concentrated in the South, leading to chronic underinvestment and resource disparities in the North. The author highlights the South's consistent neglect and preferential treatment, coupled with a lack of regional power balance, as crucial factors in the North's economic stagnation. Despite this bleak picture, the article expresses optimism about the North's future, suggesting that reforming power structures and resource allocation is key to reversing the trend.

(tomforth.co.uk)

Startup UK Economy Regional Development Centralization of Power

Bypass Job Boards: ResumeVue's Private Job Network

2025-01-24

ResumeVue is a private job board connecting job seekers directly with hiring managers, recruiters, VCs, and startup founders. Users bypass traditional job boards, reaching out directly via connection requests, DMs, or emails. Testimonials highlight users finding jobs within a week and securing more interviews. ResumeVue also offers tools to host video resumes and provides analytics, boosting job search effectiveness.

(www.resumevue.com)

Startup private job board

Chicago Casino's Minority-Only Stock Offering: A Risky Gamble?

2025-01-24

Bally's, a Chicago casino, launched a controversial stock offering exclusively for women and minorities meeting specific criteria. This raises concerns about legality, market valuation, and potential exploitation of lower-income investors. The article delves into the complex capital structure, revealing high leverage, high risk, and potential tax pitfalls. It questions whether this empowers minority communities or serves as a political maneuver to secure a casino license, highlighting the questionable valuation and the potential for predatory lending practices disguised as 'generational wealth' creation.

(www.bitsaboutmoney.com)

Startup Finance Investment Minority

Converge Careers: Redefining Career Development

2025-01-24

Converge Careers isn't your average job board. It's a personalized career development platform leveraging AI to help users understand their skills, identify career paths, and access relevant learning resources and opportunities. Think of it less as a job search engine and more as a career navigation system guiding users through the ever-evolving professional landscape.

(jobs.gem.com)

Startup talent matching

Sei (YC) Hiring Full-Stack Engineer (TypeScript, React, Gen AI)

2025-01-24

Sei, a Y Combinator-backed AI-powered regulatory compliance platform, is hiring a full-stack engineer. They use TypeScript, React, Next.js, and Python, building a scalable and secure platform. The ideal candidate is experienced, takes ownership, and aligns with Sei's human-centric, fast-execution culture. Competitive salary and equity are offered, but expect intense work.

(www.ycombinator.com)

Startup

Solar-Powered Backpacks Light Up the Future for African Children

2025-01-23

Innocent James, founder of Tanzanian startup Soma Bags, experienced firsthand the struggles of reading after dark due to lack of electricity in rural Tanzania. His solution? Solar-powered backpacks made from recycled cement bags. These innovative backpacks charge a built-in reading light while children walk to and from school, providing 6-8 hours of illumination – a cheaper and cleaner alternative to kerosene lamps. Soma Bags has sold 36,000 backpacks and is supported by the UNDP, demonstrating a sustainable and impactful solution to energy poverty and improving access to education for children in rural Africa.

(edition.cnn.com)

Startup African entrepreneurship

Demodesk: Shaping the Future of Sales, Hiring Globally

2025-01-23

Demodesk, a tech company offering AI-powered sales coaching, scheduling automation, and video conferencing platforms, is hiring globally. They champion a remote-friendly environment, offering flexible work conditions and a comprehensive benefits package including stock options, healthcare, and commuter benefits, with a focus on employee growth and development. Join Demodesk and help shape the future of sales!

(demodesk.com)

Startup AI sales

The Tyranny of Structurelessness: Power Dynamics in the Women's Liberation Movement

2025-01-22

This article examines the pitfalls of 'structureless' organizational forms in the women's liberation movement. Jo Freeman argues that seemingly structureless groups inevitably develop informal power structures, leading to elitism and exclusion. The lack of formal structures results in opaque decision-making processes, with power concentrated in the hands of a few, leaving the majority confused. The author advocates for formal, democratic organizational structures to ensure equitable power distribution and accountability, proposing principles for democratic structuring such as delegation of authority, responsibility, distributed power, and information sharing to foster the healthy development of the women's liberation movement.

(www.jofreeman.com)

Startup women's liberation organizational structure power dynamics

200 Investor Rejections: A Startup's Funding Nightmare

2025-01-22

A startup pitched nearly 200 investors during its pre-seed and seed rounds, only to be met with rejection after rejection. Reasons ranged from market timing and team expertise to product design and funding size, encompassing nearly every potential pitfall in the startup fundraising process. This article details the brutal reality of startup funding, highlighting the various perceived risks from an investor's perspective, offering valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.

(davidjarvis.com)

Startup startup funding funding rejection

Escape the Startup Idea Maze: The Hypothesis Sheet Method

2025-01-22

This article introduces the "Hypothesis Sheet" method, a process designed to help startup founders find and validate good startup ideas. The core concept is framing the startup journey as a series of hypothesis tests. The four steps involve: listing ideas/target customers, selecting one to validate, using Hypothesis Sheets to validate, and continuously de-risking or moving to the next idea. This efficiently de-risks the process, aiming to find product-market fit. The author emphasizes rapid iteration, suggesting one-week sprints, and shares customer discovery tips, including handling 'surprise factors'—instances where customer responses defy expectations.

(michaelrbock.com)

Startup product-market fit customer discovery

Indonesian Unicorn EFishery Allegedly Inflated Revenue by $600 Million

2025-01-21

EFishery, a prominent Indonesian agritech startup, is under investigation for allegedly inflating its revenue and profit figures over several years. An internal probe estimates that management falsely reported nearly $600 million in revenue in the nine months to September 2024, representing over 75% of reported figures. Backed by SoftBank and Temasek, EFishery achieved a $1.4 billion valuation. This alleged fraud raises serious concerns about corporate governance and casts a shadow on Indonesia's startup scene.

(uk.finance.yahoo.com)

Startup

Startup Winter: Hacker News' Faith in the Startup Myth Freezes Over

2025-01-21

A recent Hacker News post highlights a shift in startup sentiment. While in 2013, failed founders received supportive comments, now similar stories are met with skepticism about the risks. This change is attributed to: the increased visibility of negative consequences (burnout, relationship issues, mental health struggles); high salaries at Big Tech making the financial incentive for startups less appealing; limitations of the VC model becoming clear; and the low-hanging fruit of the mobile/web era being largely picked. The author suggests this signals a 'Startup Winter,' potentially leading to a more authentic and sustainable startup ecosystem.

(www.vincentschmalbach.com)

Startup Startup Winter Venture Capital

YC Announces Spring 2025 Batch: X25

2025-01-20

Y Combinator is launching its first-ever spring batch, X25, bringing its total annual batches to four (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall). The 'X' designation, chosen for its common use in programming, reflects YC's tech roots. This more frequent batch schedule aims to better accommodate founders' timelines and rapidly fund the surge of AI-driven startups. Applications are open until February 11th, 8 PM PT, with the program running April-June and culminating in an in-person Demo Day.

(www.ycombinator.com)

Startup

Amazon's Return-to-Office Mandate Backfires: Parking Chaos, Desk Shortages, and Theft

2025-01-20

Amazon's mandatory five-day-a-week return-to-office policy has sparked widespread employee discontent. Staffers report insufficient parking, desk shortages, inadequate meeting rooms, and a rise in office theft and poor hygiene. Many employees are conducting video calls from the office, negating the intended benefits of in-person collaboration. While Amazon claims only a few offices are unprepared, the negative feedback highlights the risks of a poorly planned transition away from remote work and raises questions about company management.

(nypost.com)

Startup office management

CollectWise: Hiring its First Founding Engineer (YC Backed)

2025-01-20

Y Combinator-backed startup CollectWise is searching for its first founding engineer. CollectWise uses generative AI to automate debt collection, achieving 2x the efficiency of human collectors at a fraction of the cost. They're looking for a full-stack engineer with experience in React JS, Node JS, Firebase, AWS, SQL, and GPT-4, who can work independently and take ownership. This is a rare opportunity to join a fast-growing team disrupting a massive, outdated industry.

(www.ycombinator.com)

Startup

TikTok's Demise: Why Relying on Proprietary Platforms is a Risky Gamble

2025-01-19

The struggles faced by TikTok creators serve as a stark warning about the dangers of relying on proprietary platforms. The author argues that building a brand or core business on a platform you don't control is incredibly risky. Examples like Twitter's API price hike, Shopify removing apps, and Etsy/eBay policy changes highlight how platform shifts can instantly devastate creators. The solution? Own your website, blog, and email list. Diversify content distribution, always driving traffic back to your own properties. The ultimate goal is to migrate your audience to spaces you own and control for long-term stability.

(bouia.com)

Startup proprietary platform risk diversification strategy

Gen Z's 'Career Catfishing': A Rebellion Against Endless Interviews and Ghosting

2025-01-19

In a competitive job market, Gen Z is employing a new tactic: 'career catfishing.' They craft idealized online personas to attract recruiters, fighting back against endless interview rounds and the frustrating experience of being ghosted by hiring managers. This trend highlights a generation's challenge to traditional job hunting and a desire for fairer, more transparent hiring practices.

(fortune.com)

Startup Job Hunting

Gen Z's 'Career Catfishing': A Silent Workplace Rebellion

2025-01-18

A recent survey reveals that one-third of Gen Z adults are engaging in "career catfishing" – accepting job offers but intentionally not showing up on the first day. This trend reflects Gen Z's pushback against workplace pressures, prioritizing personal needs and goals over conforming to corporate culture. From "quiet quitting" to "coffee badging," Gen Z is challenging traditional workplace norms and seeking work-life balance in various ways.

(nypost.com)

Startup Gen Z workplace culture rebellion

Master of Your Own Fate: Entrepreneurs vs. Predestined Lives

2025-01-18

This post recounts author Steve Blank's experience with an old friend, Glen, exploring the question of whether life's path is predetermined or self-directed. Blank reflects on their friendship during the Vietnam War and the vastly different trajectories their lives took. He argues that most people live unexamined lives, while entrepreneurs actively shape their circumstances, strive for excellence, and push humanity forward. The piece encourages readers to take control of their destinies and become masters of their own fate.

(steveblank.com)

Startup life choices destiny

Keeling Labs: Pioneering ML for Complex Energy Control

2025-01-17

Keeling Labs is a mission-driven startup in Venice, Los Angeles, pioneering machine learning solutions for complex control problems in the energy sector. The team boasts experience from companies like Rivian, DeepMind, and boasts a collaborative in-person work environment emphasizing whiteboarding and brainstorming. If you're passionate about energy trading and machine learning and want to join a growing startup, Keeling Labs might be the perfect fit.

(www.keelinglabs.com)

Startup energy trading

16 Months of Startup Life: A Former Employee's Honest Account

2025-01-17

A former Confluent employee shares his honest experience of the first 16 months of building his startup, ShadowTraffic. The post details his journey, from initial self-doubt and the elation of landing his first customer, to hitting plateaus, customer churn, and the anxieties that come with it. He describes the process not as a single leap, but as a continuous cycle of fear, courage, and calm. Key takeaways include the importance of product validation, the challenges of early customer acquisition, and the need for consistent customer support. Ultimately, the author emphasizes the importance of long-term commitment and believing in your vision.

(michaeldrogalis.substack.com)

Startup journey customer

Category: Startup